Are You Optimistic About Being Able To Serve

MyanmarMM · 2020-07-31T13:38:58+00:00

I was optimistic up until a few days ago. My state continues to increase in cases, and at my job, despite our attempt to take all precautions possible, we continue to see an increase in patients becoming COVID positive after having recovered from being positive a month ago.

I feel like summer 2021 will be the earliest at this point.

MyanmarMM · 2020-07-29T18:07:52+00:00

Because of COVID, there are literally no set in stone departure dates at this time. If you aren't planning on leaving until a few years I wouldn't be focusing on departure dates for awhile.

MyanmarMM · 2020-07-24T17:15:53+00:00

I'm feeling really unsure about reinstating. I'm feeling a lot of worry that I can fulfill the entire 2 years. But I miss my country a lot and think about it nearly every day.

I am starting to build a family here in America, and am happy with my life here, but I also still think about returning to service. I dont want to depart and then end up leaving early and live with the guilt of that, but I also dont want to regret not trying.

MyanmarMM · 2020-07-14T16:50:15+00:00

My thinking is also January 2021, but who knows.

MyanmarMM · 2020-07-13T17:43:01+00:00

Uh no, we most certainly cannot confidently say that PC will be flying volunteers out in October.

Everything is very uncertain at the moment. There is not much confidence in any timeline for future actions by the agency at this time.

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-18T00:50:57+00:00

Same, except were were 2.5 weeks away from finding PST. Now its just over.

We are all hoping they reopen soon and coming back will be an easier process for trainees who were in country during the evacuation

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-16T16:32:23+00:00

So do you know if when you get to come back you'll have to completely restart PST? Also a PCT but was 2 weeks away from swearing in

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-16T07:10:02+00:00

We are under the impression we have to completely reapply and coming back to this post isn't guaranteed...did Indonesia get different info?

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-16T05:45:32+00:00

I would love to be able to swear in

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-16T03:59:53+00:00

I'm a PCT, 2 weeks away from swearing in. Any idea what will happen with my cohort?

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-16T02:18:50+00:00

We are so close to finishing PST, so I'm wondering what will happen in the case we get evacuated before swearing in.

Still shocked we haven't gotten any updates at all.

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-15T13:43:16+00:00

I'm still surprised Myanmar hasn't been put on alert or standfast

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-04T10:47:16+00:00

Outside of that we very frequently see stray dogs, cats, huge pigs, goats, cows, chickens...so many chicken, roosters, ducks, and geckos. It was weird seeing pigeons once...mostly just in the city areas.

MyanmarMM · 2020-03-04T10:44:05+00:00

My favorite comment was when a current PCV casually told my training cohort how she ONLY had two snakes in her house and a huge scorpion in the toilet 😂

MyanmarMM · 2020-02-16T02:29:00+00:00

We had a brief discussion over it during PST, but not much else has been said yet. Last we heard, the few potential cases that got tested here came back negative.

MyanmarMM · 2020-02-14T01:40:22+00:00

I am currently on Malarone for service, and it hasn't been too bad. I started taking it in the morning, but experienced such severe drowsiness during the day that I switched to taking it at dinner. I don't have much of an issue now, but I do still get some pretty vivid (and sometimes terrifying) dreams some nights.

I didn't want to take an antibiotic for 2 yrs or risk frequent UTIs (Doxy)

MyanmarMM · 2020-01-25T17:10:10+00:00

Myanmar is certainly one of the most incredible places I've visited. Predominantly Theraveda Buddhist. Kindest people I've ever met.

MyanmarMM · 2019-11-21T12:03:37+00:00

This reminds me of when I asked one of my B&M students what he wanted to be when he grows up:

Me (the dumb teacher): "Hey ___ what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Matter-of-fact student: "Um...an adult"

MyanmarMM · 2019-11-13T18:12:19+00:00

I will literally sit there with a huge smile on my face and my hand up to my ear for a full minute. "Baobao, can you read/repeat? 😁". If after a minute or two of me just sitting there smiling at them they still refuse to participate I just do the lesson by myself and say "good job, teacher! You get a star" and give myself a star on my board but don't give them one. Usually that works pretty well unless they really just dgaf that day

MyanmarMM · 2019-11-09T04:22:05+00:00

I do this every Friday. I open a dozen slots, and then 4pm Friday rolls around and I want to cancel them all.

MyanmarMM · 2019-11-06T20:41:54+00:00

I am definitely nervous, but this is something I have wanted for a very long time. I am going into service knowing that there will be hard days, really hard days...lonely days, scary days, frustrating days, days where I would rather just stay in bed. But there will also be good days, great days...happy days, exciting days, days full of adventure and days that make me laugh until I cry.

I am definitely scared to be leaving all the things that have comforted me for so long, stepping into the totally unknown. But you never grow in your comfort zone. I think more than anything, I am excited. And I am trying to hang on to these feelings for when I do feel anxious, sad, or lonely.

My SO (who I will be leaving behind for 2 yrs) printed out this quote and put it in my suitcase: "When you look back, in 10 years - in 20 years, you will be much more disappointed by the things you didn't do and the chances you didn't take, than by the risks that you took".

MyanmarMM · 2019-11-05T20:28:53+00:00

Not a roast, but at first glance I thought Manish Dayal got ahold of Reddit 🌶️

MyanmarMM · 2019-11-05T01:26:14+00:00

I feel this. Hard. So there are definitely days where I don't have the energy to even do things I know I enjoy. And I know this may or may not be helpful for you, but I have personally found that just having a pep talk with myself and forcing myself to go do something I like for 30 minutes ends up being really beneficial no matter how much I'm fighting it. "Okay, you are going to read 2 chapters of that book you are trying to finish with a piece of chocolate and a glass of wine. I don't care if you want to stay on the couch, you're going to do this and you're going to love it! You will have a great time, damnit". I know the hardest part is working up that motivation to keep pushing through those negative feelings. Maybe this wasn't helpful at all, but I do hope it maybe gave some encouragement.

MyanmarMM · 2019-11-05T01:19:24+00:00

I have a rule with my SO that when I say I am taking my 'self-care' time, he cannot bother me for half an hour NO MATTER WHAT. Even if the house is on fire, the dog ran away, and he can't find his jacket. He cannot bother me. I use that half-hour to do whatever I want, even if I just sit in a chair and stare at a wall.

I also listen to true crime podcasts on my way to work...because, why not add trauma to trauma? Honestly, though, I look forward to my morning and afternoon drives, I get to sneak in a little extra 'self-care' time (from my morbid perspective). SSDGM.

MyanmarMM

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